Posted by Kevin Micalizzi on Thu, Dec 18, 2008 @ 01:39 PM
Since I started with Dimdim, I've been asked a few times why we include an conference call number with Dimdim Free if we can deliver audio and video via the web. My feeling is, sometimes you don't have internet access but still need to join the meeting. I've been living this experience for a week now.
I live in NH in the US and own one of the 320,000+ homes that lost power seven days ago. We had a terrible ice storm that caused more damage to the power grid than any other in our history. To give an idea of the extent of the restoration efforts, the utility company has crews in from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Quebec assisting. So far today they are saying there are still about 44,000 of us without power.
Every Monday morning we start with a company meeting via Dimdim and the phone conference. (actually using a
Dimdim Free account with a free conference call number.) This Monday I was able to run to a local Starbucks and get on the Starbucks AT&T Wifi. I dialed-in to the conference call from my cell phone and was able to follow the meeting via Dimdim and even shared a slide deck. The shop was packed, so I doubt I'd have done well with video, but it still worked out well.
So for most of the week I've been bouncing between coffee shops and home. I call it my "local" Starbucks, but it's actually 30 minutes away. So my pattern has been to run down and work for a few hours in the morning, run home to tend the woodstoves, then run back to work some more.
Yesterday morning I had a meeting at 8am, but snow was falling and the roads were potentially dangerous--I was stuck at home. I ended up having to sit in my car and dial-in with my cell phone (picture at right was taken during this meeting). If we had relied on online audio only, I would not have been able to participate at all. I've also seen this happen with less extreme situations, like people stuck at the airport or traveling and in a hotel with spotty internet service.
They're now saying power in our town should be restored by Saturday, though there is a snowstorm coming tomorrow. I may have a few more days of calls (or driving) before I can enjoy the benefits of seeing the visuals again. For now, I get to enjoy the wonders of winter and squeeze in my work where I can.
Thanks.
-k
p.s. If you have a chance, stop by and say 'hi' on Twitter or Facebook.
Posted by Steve Chazin on Wed, Dec 10, 2008 @ 12:23 PM
Talk about eating our own dog food - we just held our board meeting on Dimdim. There was 1 attendee from California, 1 from New York, 2 from Massachusetts, 2 more from London, 1 from Mumbai, and 1 from Hyderabad. If we had flown to California, then we would have spent at least $4,000 per person in airline, hotel and car rental costs. By avoiding the travel of 7 people, we saved about $28,000 by conducting the meeting over Dimdim.
This year we have had about 8 such board meetings over Dimdim. So we have saved about $224,000 this year.
On top of that I have another Dimdim meeting with a potential partner in 30 minutes. If I had a face to face board meeting then I would never be able to make it to this next meeting. And so my productivity increases too. Bye, gotta run to the next meeting.
Warm regards,
ddg
CEO